Smyth to four for Hillhouse

Michael Smyth ( Royal Troon) raced to victory by four shots in the Hillhouse Cup competition against Royal Troon on Sunday.

In testing conditions from the championship tees, Smyth fired a two under par 69 to win by four shots from Rory McKenzie ( Welbeck).

Stuart Robin ( St Cuthbert) was third on 74 while the next four places were shared on 75 by Sandy Buchanan ( St Nicholas), Iain Brown ( West Kilbride), Jim Johnston ( Ayr Belleisle) and Steven Wallace ( St Cuthbert).

Third round ties in the Ayrshire champion of champions are:

Michael Smyth ( Roy Troon) v Jack Broun ( Belleisle); Scott Ireland ( St Nicholas) v John Shanks ( Irvine); Kieran Clark ( Braehead) v David MacDonald ( Largs); Blair Henderson ( Ayr Carrick) v Robert Adams ( Abbotsford); James McMurdo ( Ballochmyle) v Graeme Gimson ( St Cuthbert); Iain Fraser ( Troon Port) beat Sandy Walker ( Kilmarnock Barassie) 3& 2; Steven Stamper ( Turnberry) v Mark Tait ( Rowallan Castle); John Sloan ( holder) v Gordon Munro ( Caprington).

Alistair Colquhoun ( left) and John Errington ( right) were crowned winter foursomes champions at Prestwick St Nicholas after beating Gordon Adams and Stephen King 4& 3 in an exciting final.

Gordon and Stephen raced two up after three holes but Alistair and John won the next five for a three- hole lead. After that they never allowed their lead to slip below two up.

Ayrshire Ladies County Golf Association team retained the Innes McQueen Trophy when they drew 2- 2 with the Ayrshire Golf Association team at Rowallan Castle in the annual match between the two county associations.

Match details ( County Association first): Zara Mason ( Kirkcudbright) & Lousie Duncan ( West Kilb) lost 5& 3 to Jack Broun and Euan Ferguson ( Tberry); Christina McCracken ( Troon Ladies) & Katy Hill ( St Cuthbert) lost 4& 3 to Ewan Milligan & Robbie Muir ( Kilmarnock Bar); Emma Thomson & Liz Keohone ( Loudoun) beat John Sloan ( Doon Valley) & Sandy Walker ( Kilmarnock Bar) 2& 1; Emma Hale ( Troon Ladies) & Catherine Malcolm ( St Cuthbert) beat Kyle Brown ( Turnberry) & James McMurdo ( Ballochmyle) 7& 5.

Craig Hamilton ( Ballochmyle) stormed to a third Ayrshire Matchplay Championship title when he beat county teammate Jim Johnston ( Ayr Belleisle) 6& 4 in the final at Prestwick.

In the semi- finals Hamilton beat defending champion John Shanks ( Irvine) by two holes while Johnston was a 2& 1 winner over Greg Watson ( West Kilbride).

Ayrshire Golf Association president John Rushbury presented prizes to both players.

Ayrshire strokeplay champion Alan Connery ( Irvine) leads the Ayrshire Order Of Merit for The Doc Thom Salver after four of the 21 counting events.

Connery has 150 points and leads from Iain Brown ( West Kilbride) on 117 and Michael Smyth ( Royal Troon) on 100.